Marriage Licences and Ceremonies

It costs $165 to apply for a marriage licence.

There is a surcharge of $200 to issue a marriage licence after-hours.

To provide witnesses, there is a fee of $25 per staff person.

Each partner must submit two pieces of government-issued identification. One piece of identification must include your photo. Here are the accepted identification documents:

• Birth Certificate (Canadian or foreign)
• Passport (Canadian or foreign)
• Driver’s Licence (Canadian or foreign)
• Ontario Photo Card
• Photo Identity Card (other Canadian provinces/territories or foreign)
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card
• Canadian Record of Landing
• Canadian Government Refugee Travel Document
• Canadian Department of National Defence driver’s licence (Form DND 404)
• Canadian Possession and Acquisition Licence
• Canadian Status Card
• Canadian Conditional Release Identification Card
• Nexus card
• United States Green Card
• Report Pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Form IMM 1442)
• Student Authorization/Study Permit (Form IMM 1442)
• Employment Authorization/Work Permit (Form IMM 1442)
• Visitor Record (Form IMM 1442) 
• Temporary Resident’s Permit (Form IMM 1442)–Minister’s Permit/Extension of Minister’s Permit

Social Insurance Number (SIN) Card and Health Cards are not considered an acceptable form of identification.

You and your partner must be at least 16 years of age in order to get married in Ontario. If you are under the age 18, you will need to get written consent from all parents or legal guardians who have decision-making responsibility (also known as legal custody).

While applicants can submit their marriage licence application online, the applicant(s) who are 16 or 17 years old will have to have their parents or legal guardians come with them in-person to pick up their marriage licence.

During the in-person visit, the parents or legal guardians must complete/sign the Consent of Parents or Guardians to Marriage (Form 6) and have the document commissioned on site by municipal staff

If your or your partner is remarrying after a divorce or annulment in Canada, you must provide additional documentation to demonstrate that a divorce or annulment occurred. You will need to provide with your application an original or court-certified copy of one of the following for each applicant:

• the final decree (divorce or annulment)
• the final judgement (divorce or annulment)
• a Certificate of Divorce

International divorces

If a previous marriage was dissolved or annulled outside of Canada, the Marriage Act requires that authorization must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar General at Service Ontario before we will issue a marriage licence.

You must pay all necessary fees at the time of booking:

• $300 (plus HST) for a ceremony held on Monday to Friday within our jurisdiction
• $350 (plus HST) for a ceremony held on Saturday or Sunday within our jurisdiction
• $450 (plus HST) for a ceremony hold on Monday to Sunday outside our boundaries, including on a boat)
• $300 (plus HST) for a renewal of vows from Monday to Sunday

Please note

• if you get married outside the municipal boundary, you may need to pay additional mileage and travel expenses to the officiant
• it costs extra if you would like the officiant to attend a rehearsal
• facility rentals are an additional fee

If you would like to change the date or time of your ceremony, you must make the request at least two weeks before the original date and time. Changes in time and location will be based on the availability

of the Marriage Commissioner and if applicable, location.

Cancellations and refunds

Review our cancellation and refund policy:

• cancellations made less than 30 days before the date of the original ceremony will result in a full penalty – no refund, no exceptions.
• cancellations made 31 to 120 days before the date of the original ceremony will be receive a 50% refund
• cancellations made 121 days or more before the date of the original ceremony will receive a full refund of their ceremony minus a $50 administration fee
• no refund will be issued if the you fail to attend the ceremony

Civil wedding ceremonies are conducted by the City Clerk, Deputy Clerk or a Marriage Commissioner. Ceremonies may be held anywhere within the boundaries of the City of Kenora and the surrounding unincorporated area, subject to confirmation by the Marriage Commissioner. If you would like to hold a ceremony elsewhere in Ontario, further approvals will be required.

Pre-ceremony meeting

Please schedule a pre-ceremony meeting with the Marriage Commissioner at least three days before the ceremony. This meeting will last approximately 30 minutes. Please ensure you have the following information available at this meeting:

• details of the ceremony (i.e., flowers, vows, rings, readings, number in wedding party)
• if specific vows are to be included, provide a copy to the Commissioner
• if you're using an interpreter, please provide an applicable form to the Commissioner with details
• provide a valid Marriage Licence issued in the Province of Ontario (date issued must be within three months of the ceremony)

The pre-ceremony meeting is only meant for the couple and Marriage Commissioner. No other family or friends should attend.

Please note that during the busy summer wedding season officiants will not be able to meet with you weeks in advance. Should you require an earlier meeting, special arrangements may be made, depending on availability

Ceremony rules and guidelines

Review the following guidelines before your big day:

• plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the ceremony
• only music deemed appropriate by the Marriage Commissioner will be allowed during the ceremony
• please wear appropriate clothing for the occasion
• you can take photographs during the wedding ceremony well as during the signing of the Register, and/or when the ceremony is complete
• you can record the ceremony as long as you follow the guidelines set by the Marriage Commissioner
• alcohol or stimulants cannot be used by those getting married or the witnesses prior to, or during the ceremony

You can decorate the Council Chambers prior to your wedding ceremony as long as you follow these decorating guidelines:

• confetti, rice, bubbles, etc. are not allowed in the Council Chambers or on municipal property
• we can provide silk flower arrangements in the Council Chambers
• you can place decorations 15 minutes before the ceremony and they must be removed 15 minutes after the ceremony
• decorations, such as flowers and balloons are permitted
• you cannot hang any decorations to the walls or furniture (no tape, staples, nails, etc.)